Methods and Systems for Enhancing Firearm Safety Through Wireless Network Monitoring

ABSTRACT

A firearm includes a firing mechanism and a sensor. The sensor is configured for wireless communication over s short range RF network with a hub worn or carried by a user of the firearm. The hub includes a subscriber identity module configured to communicate with a server over a signaling channel of a wireless telecommunications network. The sensor device is configured to control a enable/disable mechanism in the firearm in accordance with instructions received from the hub.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application, which is a CONTINUATION of U.S. application Ser. No.14/023,371 filed Sep. 10, 2013, which is a CONTINUATION-IN-PART of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/954,903 filed Jul. 30, 2013, which is aCONTINUATION-IN-PART of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/913,478, filed Jun.10, 2013, which claims the priority benefit of (a) U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/853,179, filed Apr. 1, 2013, (b) U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/853,971, filed Apr. 16, 2013, and(c) U.S. Provisional Application 61/825,985, filed May 21, 2013, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its respective entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for monitoring and,optionally, controlling, handheld firearms and other instruments usingembedded sensor devices that are configured to send and receive signalsover a wireless communications network.

BACKGROUND

Firearm safety is a topic of political and societal debate in the UnitedStates. Prior efforts to improve the safety of handheld firearms haveincluded devices such as manual safeties, decockers, drop safeties,safety notches, firing pin blocks, hammer blocks, magazine disconnects,trigger guards, fingerprint sensors, loaded chamber indicators and evenradio controlled proximity activation devices which permit operation ofthe firearm only when it is within range of a fob or similar device.While these devices offer varying degrees of physical safety, none areconcerned with defining an area within and for which a firearm may beenabled or disabled from operation or with notifying an owner of anattempt to access, move or operate the owner's firearm. Further, noexisting solutions communicatively couple a firearm to its owner via awireless telecommunications network and a machine-to-machine (“M2M”)component located within the firearm so as to control a firearm safetymechanism or its equivalent. Nor do any existing solutions establish anetwork-based (e.g., cloud-based) rule-set through which a firearm ownercan establish and/or customize firearm control variables, such as adefault trigger safety status. Further, no existing solutions enable afirearm owner to be provided with location, movement, and/or similarinformation regarding the location and/or status of the firearm (e.g.,via a wireless communication network) and further enable the owner todisable the firearm via a user interface of a wireless device (e.g.,mobile phone) applet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an individual outfitted with componentsof a system configured for monitoring and, optionally, controlling,handheld firearms and other instruments using embedded sensors inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a firearm having an embedded sensor, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a system configured for monitoring and,optionally, controlling, a firearm configured with an embedded sensorover a signaling channel of a wireless communications network inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the above-referenced U.S. application Ser. No. 13/954,903, methodsand systems for monitoring and, optionally, controlling, handheldfirearms using embedded sensors configured to send and receive signalsover a signaling channel of a wireless communications network weredescribed. Briefly, a firearm configured in accordance with theinvention described in the '903 Application includes a firing mechanismand a sensor device. The sensor device includes a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) configured to communicate with a server over a signalingchannel of a wireless communications network. The sensor device isconfigured to enable/disable the firing mechanism in accordance withinstructions received by the SIM from the server.

Described herein are methods and systems for monitoring and, optionally,controlling, multiple handheld firearms or related instruments usingembedded sensors which communicate with a personal hub device worn orcarried by an individual utilizing the firearms or related instruments.The hub is configured to send and receive signals over a signalingchannel of a first wireless communications network in the fashiondescribed in the '903 Application and to communicate with the embeddedsensors in each of the firearms and other instruments over one or moresecond wireless communications networks. The first wirelesscommunications network is preferably a mobile telecommunicationsnetwork, that includes a common signaling channel, such as one compliantwith signaling system 7 (SS-7), which refers to a set of standardsdefining telephony signaling protocols. Thus, in one embodiment, thefirst wireless communication network may be a Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) telecommunications network. The second wirelesscommunication network(s) may be short-range radio frequency (RF)communications networks, such as those compliant with Bluetooth orBluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication protocols. The secondwireless communication network may be a single network through which allof the firearms and related instruments carried by an individualcommunicate with the hub device or it may be a plurality of ad hocwireless communications networks by which each individual firearm orother instrument communicates with the hub device but not with others ofthe firearms or related instruments. For purposes of the presentdescription, a single, second wireless communication network will bereferred to, but readers should recognize that this is simply forpurposes of ease of description and actual instantiations of theinvention may include multiple such networks.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an individual 10, in this case a policeofficer, wearing a utility belt on which is included a personal hub 14configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inother embodiments the hub 12 may be integrated into an article ofclothing (for example a belt buckle or utility belt) or a firearm andneed not necessarily be a separate unit. In other instances, the hub maybe designed to be carried in a pocket or on a lanyard worn around anindividual's neck. In still other embodiments, the hub may be integratedin another instrument, such as a portable radio, mobile phone, or otherdevice.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the police officer 10 is alsoequipped with a non-lethal, electroshock weapon 14, such as a Taser™, assold by Taser International, Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., and a firearm16. In other examples, police officers, private security guards andother individuals may be equipped with additional or differentinstruments, such as batons, rifles, etc. In accordance with embodimentsof the present invention, firearm 16 and electroshock weapon 14 (and,optionally, other instruments worn or carried by police officer 10) areconfigured with embedded sensors that are communicatively coupled to hub12 over a wireless communications network, such as a Bluetooth or BLEnetwork. In the case of an embedded sensor in firearm 16, such a sensormay be configured to act as an integrated electrical and mechanicalgating device to control the function of a firing pin or equivalent,preventing the firearm from being fired in the absence of anauthorization signal received by the sensor (or, disabling the firearmupon receipt of a disable signal). Alternatively, or in addition, theembedded sensor may be configured to transmit a signal upon therespective firearm being moved and/or a safety mechanism beingdeactivated or mode selection mechanism being engaged. Likewise, theembedded sensor in electroshock weapon 14 may be configured to exertcontrol over the firing mechanism of the device, preventing such firingin the absence of an authorization signal (or permitting firing only inthe absence of a disable signal) and/or reporting on operation and/ormovement of the weapon.

Although intended primarily for use with handheld firearms and relatedinstruments, for example, pistols, revolvers, rifles, electroshockweapons, etc., the present invention may be adapted for use with anyfirearm or similar instrument. Therefore, as used herein, the termfirearm should be understood as including handheld firearms,electroshock weapons, and other, similar instruments, as may be used bylaw enforcement personnel, private security personnel, militarypersonnel, hunters, individuals engaged in personal safety activities,and others. Further, while the embedded sensor may be a separate modulethat is integrated into the firearm as an after-market accessory, insome instances the functionality provided by the embedded sensor may beintegrated within the firearm at the time of its manufacture, either asa separate module or as an embedded part of the mode selection or safetymechanism. Therefore, the use of the term embedded sensor is forconvenience only and should be understood to include integrated modulesand similar mechanisms providing the functionality described herein.Such sensors and the hub 12 may find application in both consumer aswell as commercial applications.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an embedded sensor 18 for a firearm 16.In this example, the sensor 18 has an associated solenoid 20, which actsas a mechanical gating device (under the control of sensor 18) tocontrol the function of a firing pin or equivalent, preventing thefirearm 16 from being fired in the absence of an authorization signalreceived by the sensor 18. In other examples, the sensor simply monitorsthe operation of the firearm 16.

Because different firearms have different safety mechanisms, a detaileddiscussion of such mechanisms is not included herein. For purposes ofthe present invention, it is sufficient to recognize that virtually allfirearms include such safety mechanisms and it is intended that in someembodiments of the invention the embedded sensors will be included in afiring enable pathway and use a solenoid so as to act as anelectrical-mechanical trigger safety gating means to permit or preventsuch firing. In some instances this may require retrofitting of thefirearm to include a suitable firing detent mechanism that can beenabled or disabled through an electronic signal from the sensor device.In other instances, new firearms may be designed and constructed forinclusion of such enable/disable means. For firearms with electricalfiring mechanisms, the sensor device may be coupled to a switch in anelectrical pathway in the firing mechanism and may be used to close oropen the switch in accordance with firing authorization having beenreceived or not.

More specifically, in one embodiment of the invention a blocking orgating means (which in one embodiment may be a cylindrical metal bar orrod) moves along an axis between a safety position and a firing positioninitiated by the action of a solenoid (energized/not energized),responsive to communications via the electronic components of the sensor(e.g., an electrical pulse). The blocking or gating means is movablebetween a first position, where the firing pin is operable to dischargethe firearm, to a second position, where it is not. A first electricpulse causes the solenoid to move the blocking or gating means from thefirst position to the second, and a second electric pulse causessolenoid to return the blocking or gating means to its originalposition.

Although not shown in detail in FIG. 2, it should be appreciated thateach sensor 18 may be integrated within a firearm or similar instrumentand provided a power source. For example, the sensor may include its ownbattery. The battery may be rechargeable, in which case facilities forrecharging same may be integrated within the firearm. For example, thefirearm may be configured with a port to permit coupling to an externalpower source to facilitate recharging of an integrated battery. Inanother example, a battery charger clip (not shown) may be provided as atemporary replacement of an ammo clip or magazine. The firearm owner maybe notified of battery status via an indicator light or other means(e.g., by a signal issued from the sensor to the hub and, optionally,subsequently reported by the hub to a mobile device or website that canbe reviewed by the user). Recharging of the battery may then beaccomplished by replacing an ammunition clip with the charging clip. Thecharging clip may include a battery, so as to recharge the sensorbattery therefrom, and/or may include a transformer so as to rechargesensor battery from a power line outlet. In practice, the sensor isdesigned to consume very little power so that recharging is needed onlyinfrequently. As indicated above, in embodiments of the invention thesensor 18 is configured with a short range radio frequencycommunications transceiver (or equivalent), such as a Bluetooth or BLEtransceiver.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the sensor included in firearm 16 is seen as oneelement of a monitoring and safety system that includes a number ofcloud-based components, user interface components, and, optionally, acomputer-aided dispatch (CAD) system which may also include GeographicInformation System (GIS) software. The sensor in firearm 16 (and similarsuch sensors included in other instruments) communicates over a wirelesscommunications network with hub 12. Hub 12 is configured with both awireless communications transceiver to communicate with the sensorincluded in firearm 16 and a second wireless communications transceiverto communicate with other components of the monitoring system over asignaling channel of a mobile telecommunications network 22. Included aspart of the second wireless communications transceiver or modulesassociated with same is a subscriber identity module (SIM). Thus, thehub 12 includes one or more integrated circuits, similar to that used inmobile phones, having an onboard microcontroller, random access and readonly memory (which stores an operating system), and an electricallyerasable programmable read only memory that stores personalityinformation such as a unique identifier, e.g., an international mobilesubscriber identity (IMSI), and a related cryptographic key that is usedto identify and authenticate a subscriber on a mobile telephony network.The SIM may also store one or more of a unique serial number, a personalidentification number (PIN) and a personal unblocking code (PUK) forunlocking the PIN. Other logical and physical characteristics of the SIMmay be such so as to be compatible with European TelecommunicationsStandards Institute specification TS 11.11, and/or 3^(rd) GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) specification TS 51.011 and TS 31.102.Applications may also be stored on the SIM, for example applicationssuch as those described herein which facilitate communications betweenthe SIM and a mobile device. Application toolkits which facilitatedevelopment of such applications are described in various specificationsof the 3GPP and ETSI and are well known in the art and so will not berepeated herein.

Importantly for purposes of the present invention, SIMs storenetwork-specific information used to authenticate and identifysubscribers on a mobile telephony network. These identifiers include anintegrated circuit card identifier (ICCID), which identifies both theissuer of the SIM as well as a unique account number (e.g., of thesubscriber), and the IMSI, which identifies the SIM to the network. Inoperation, the SIM also stores network state information, including alocation area identity (LAI), which is updated whenever the SIM changeslocations.

The SIM, as a component of the present system, is configured inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention to transmit andreceive signals over a dedicated signaling channel of wirelesstelecommunications network 22. Such mechanisms are commonly referred toas common channel signaling, distinguishing them from channel associatedsignaling which involves transporting signaling information on the samechannel as will ultimately carry a voice conversation. Common channelsignaling provides a distinct advantage in that the path and facilityused to transport the signaling information is distinct from thechannels that carry voice conversations, allowing for significantperformance improvements in both the time it takes to communicate thesignaling information and the use of network facilities. In the UnitedStates, common channel signaling is usually referred to as SS-7, whichrefers to a set of standards defining telephony signaling protocols.Thus, the present invention makes use of the SS-7 signaling channel of awireless telecommunications network 22, which in one embodiment is a GSMtelecommunications network.

In a GSM telecommunications network, a mobile switching center (MSC) isresponsible for setting up and releasing end-to-end connections, basedon signaling information received over the SS-7 signaling channel. TheMSC is generally included within a mobile telephone switching office(MTSO) and is communicatively coupled to a home location register (HLR)and a central database that stores information concerning eachsubscriber authorized to use the network. This information includes theIMSI associated with the SIM and the current LAI.

In accordance with the present invention, communications between a SIMin hub 12 and an HLR 24 over the SS-7 signaling channel make use of USSD(Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) messages. USSD messages may beup to 182 alphanumeric characters per signaling packet. USSD messagescreate a real-time connection during a USSD session. The connectionremains open, allowing a two-way exchange of data. This makes USSDsessions ideally suited as a communications vehicle between SIMsincluded in hub 12 and applications (e.g., instantiated on mobile phones30, personal computers 32 and/or similar devices, and/or control centers34) configured to permit firearm owners and/or users to authorize orblock the use of those firearms (e.g., by authorizing or preventing therelease of the firearm's safety mechanism). Some characters within the182-character packet are otherwise un-used for transmission purposes andmay be applied and used for transmission of sensor-related information,such as battery status, firearm status, etc., and for instructionssignaling a solenoid to enable or disable a trigger safety mechanism.

As shown, hub 12 having a SIM that is configured in accordance with thepresent invention is communicatively coupled to a subscriber mobiledevice 30 over a wireless communications network 22. Details of thenetwork 22 are not illustrated at this level; however, communicationsbetween the SIM and an application running on the mobile device 30 makeuse of the network's signaling channel rather than a voice or otherchannel. The application may be configured to provide alerts to thesubscriber in response to the SIM signaling any movement or, optionally,attempted operation of the firearm and allows the subscriber to tracksuch movements and/or enable or disable such operation remotely.

In addition to communicating the movement/attempted operationinformation to the mobile device 30, the network components may beconfigured to alert other units. For example, in the case of firearmsassociated with a police force or similar unit, alerts may be providedto a watch commander or other individual at control center 34, includingvia use of portable visual displays, such as mobile phone devices, wherethe control center itself may be mobile. This may act as a monitoringmeans for deployment of officers' firearms and/or an early warningindicator of the use of those firearms. Similarly, gun clubs and otherprivate organizations may monitor the movements and/or use of theirfirearms (or members' firearms on the premises) so as to ensure they arebeing used and/or transported within guidelines established by therespective organizations. Personal computers 32 or control/commandcenters 34 may be used for such purposes.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is network equipment associated with a providerthat offers the firearm monitoring service that is the subject of theinvention. In some instances, the service provider may be the sameprovider that operates the telecommunications network 22, but more oftenthen not it will be a different service provider. The provider'sequipment is communicatively coupled to the telecommunications network22 and includes an HLR 24 configured as with subscriber information asdescribed herein. Also included in the provider's network are one ormore servers, for example an application server 26 and web server 36,and associated rules databases 28, which are configured to issueenable/disable commands to a SIM in hub 12 according to rulesestablished by a subscriber, including for example security firm,military, or law enforcement personnel, and information received fromhub 12. For example, based on information from hub 12, the applicationserver 26 may determine whether the firearm 16 is located within apermitted operating area established by the subscriber. If so, theserver may issue an enable command to hub 12, which relays same over theshort range wireless communications network to firearm or other device16, permitting the use of the device. If, however, the firearm isdetermined to be outside the permitted area of operation, the server maybe configured to prevent firing of the firearm, e.g., by sending adisable signal to the hub 12 to relay to the firearm. Alternatively,such “geo-fences” may be established to prevent firearm operation withina designated area (such as a building and is associated grounds, a park,etc.). These baseline enable/disable instructions may be overridden by asubscriber through use of an application running on mobile device 30.Note that although application server 26, web server 36 and rulesdatabase 28 are shown separately, the functions of these units may beincluded, in some embodiments, within HLR 24.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is optional integration of the present system witha computer aided dispatch (CAD) system 38. CAD system 38 may include oneor more servers 40 and an associated CAD control center 42. CAD controlcenter 42 may be used to assist in the dispatch of emergency servicespersonnel, such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medicalpersonnel. Communications provided through CAD control center 42 aretypically routed to and from dispatchees via a mobile data terminal(MDT) on the dispatchee's person or in an associated vehicle. CADcontrol center 42 may also be configured to store and retrieve data(e.g., radio logs, field interviews, client information, schedules,etc.) from the MDU.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the CAD controlcenter also receives information from hub 12 as hub 12 communicates withsensors embedded in firearm 16 and other devices. Thus, a dispatcher maybe provided with information concerning the movement, discharge or otheroperation of a firearm or other instrument and may relay suchinformation through the CAD control center to other emergency servicespersonnel. Alternatively, CAD server 40 may relay such informationautomatically, for example by sending alerts to mobile phones 44 and/orpersonal computers 46 (or MDUs) used by such personnel.

Thus far the hub 12 has been described primarily as a relay unit forcommunicating with one or more sensors embedded in firearms and relatedinstruments. In some embodiments, the hub may include additionalfeatures, such as location determining devices (e.g., global positioningsystem (GPS) receivers), and sensors for detection of illegal drugs,chemicals, gasses, and vapors associated with explosive devices, etc.Information obtained by such receivers/sensors may be communicated to acontrol station and/or mobile device, etc., via the same signalingchannel used to relay information from a firearm. Thus, the hub mayserve as a central communications facility for instrumentation andequipment carried by a police officer, security guard, soldier or otherindividual.

Thus, in one embodiment the present invention includes sensor devices inone or more firearms or related instruments, a personal hub thatincludes a SIM and, optionally, other receivers/sensors, and which isconfigured to communicate information received over a short rangewireless communication network from the sensors associated with thefirearms and related instruments to a remote monitoring station via asignaling channel of a wireless telecommunications network. In additionto information received from the embedded sensors associated with thefirearms and related instruments, the hub may also communicateinformation from its own associated receivers and/or sensors over thewireless telecommunications network to provide operators at the remotemonitoring station with a more complete description of the environmentin which the user associated with the firearms is operating. The hub isalso configured to receive information over the signaling channel of thetelecommunications network from the remote monitoring station (and/orother sources) and, responsive thereto, to send commands via the shortrange wireless network to the embedded sensors associated with thefirearms and related instruments to enable/disable operation of thosefirearms or related instruments.

In various embodiments, the sensors associated with the firearms andother instruments may be configured to provide an alert upon one or moreof: movement of the firearm, an attempted operation of the firearm,disabling of a safety of the firearm, and a change in mode of thefirearm. To facilitate such actions, the sensor may include a motiondetector. Upon receipt of such an alert, the hub 12 may be configured totransmit same to the remote monitoring station over thetelecommunications network. In one embodiment, the sensor associatedwith a firearm or related instrument may be configured to periodicallytransmit an electronic heartbeat signal to the hub so that the hub knowsthe associated firearm is nearby (it is envisioned that the short rangewireless communication network over which the hub and firearm sensorcommunicate has an effect range of a few meters to perhaps a few tens ofmeters). In the event the hub does not receive a heartbeat signal (whichmay be coded to uniquely identify the associated firearm or relatedinstrument), the hub may transmit an alert message to the remote controlstation to act as a warning that the firearm has potentially becomeseparated from its authorized user.

To this end, hubs may be configured to operate only with designatedsensors (firearms) but to detect the heartbeats transmitted by othersensors. In this way, a hub passing near a location of a stolen firearmmay detect a heartbeat transmitted by that firearm, and, uponrecognizing that the heartbeat is not associated with a sensor for whichthe hub is configured to operate, may pass the heartbeat information toa remote control center. At the remote control center, the heartbeat maybe decoded to identify the associated firearm and, if recognized asbeing associated with a stolen firearm, an alert may be provided to lawenforcement and/or other personnel in the area (e.g., via a CAD MDU). Insome cases, the remote control center may wirelessly configure the hubthat received the heartbeat from the stolen firearm to communicate withthe sensor associated with that firearm and disable the firearm.

Within buildings and other structures or urban canyons, locationdetermination based on Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers is notalways reliable or accurate. Accordingly, the hubs are not limited tothe use of GPS location determination but may also include otherlocation determination means, such as mobile telecommunications networktriangulation using femtocell devices deployed to provide cell towerlocation coordinates. Use of femtocell triangulation requires installinglow-powered cellular base stations that have a range of approximately 40feet. Such femtocell technology works well within buildings, for precisefloor, hallway, or similar location determinations.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a SIM of a hub 12communicatively couples the sensor embedded in a firearm 16 over awireless network to a cloud-based platform (e.g., an HLR) that includescomputer-based decision-making and database rule-sets for signalinginformation. The cloud-based platform is further communicatively coupledto a mobile device (such as a smart phone) and/or control center, whichincludes a firearm monitoring and safety application. The applicationenables the firearm owner or other user to communicate with the sensorin the firearm, for example to receive status information such as alertsproduced by motion sensors included in the firearm. The user can respondto such alerts via a user interface of the application, for example tocause a solenoid to cause blocking or gating means included in thefirearm to move between a first position and a second position, and viceversa. In other embodiments, the sensor may be enabled solely forpurposes of tracking the location of the firearm and may not play a rolein enabling or disabling the firing of the weapon.

In operation, when a hub configured in accordance with the presentinvention is powered on, it enters an initialization mode in which theSIM searches for a nearest base transceiver station (BTS) of a wirelesstelecommunications network. To facilitate communications between the SIMand the network equipment, the hub may include a radio transceiver andan antenna. The antenna may be located at or near the exterior surfaceof the hub and/or may have an exposed portion thereof so as to providefor a robust communication pathway.

In the initialization mode, the SIM included in the hub scans for asignal from one or more BTS signals and, if there is more than one, willgenerally select the one with the strongest received signal strength andthat has a system identifier indicating compatibility with the SIM'snetwork operator. The system identifier is typically broadcast by a BTSon a control channel. Once a BTS has been selected, the SIM willregister with the network and, if the carrier that operates this networkis not the same carrier as operates the firearm monitoring service ofthe present invention, the network operator will signal (using an SS-7channel) the appropriate home carrier (i.e., the carrier associated withthe present firearm monitoring service).

Network registration may vary depending on the country and/or carriersinvolved, but generally will include the SIM selecting a channel slotfor transmission and, through the use of the radio transceiver, usingthe signal control path to transmit its associated phone number and IMSIto the BTS. The BTS forwards the signaling information to the localnetwork operator's MTSO, which initiates a handshake with the SIM. TheSIM responds with its unique authentication key, which is then used forencrypting and authenticating all further communications between the SIMand the MTSO. While a SIM is powered on, network registration isautomatic and ongoing, occurring every several seconds and lasting onlya few milliseconds. Power consumption during such registrationoperations is minimal.

The SS-7 protocol for SIM network registration includes specificsignaling packet length(s), field(s) identity, and character length, andin addition to phone number and IMSI, the fields include a “messagewaiting indicator” and “feature request.” These fields may be used inaccordance with the present invention for communication of some of theinformation required for geospatial location awareness and an “enable”or “disable” instruction over the SS-7 signaling channel.

Mobile communications between the BTS and the hub occurs through the useof radio signaling transmissions, using a full-duplex configuration andseparate transmit and receive frequencies. The BTS transmits on thefrequency that the hub receiver is tuned to, while the hub transmits onthe radio frequency that the BTS receiver is tuned to. The BTS acts as aconduit for information transfer between the hub and the MTSO.Subscriber-specific information for use by the MTSO is contained in theHLR, which also performs an important role in tracking the hub (i.e.,its associated SIM) as it moves around the network. In one embodiment,this tracking involves the use of LAI information stored by the SIM.

During registration, the SIM stores network state information, includingthe LAI, received from the BTS. When the firearm changes location and/orthe mode of the firearm is changed (e.g., going from a “safe” mode to a“fire” mode or a “single shot” mode to a “semi-automatic” mode, etc.),the SIM stores the new LAI. Further, in accordance with the presentinvention, the SIM encrypts the LAI and stores it in a dial buffer ofthe device.

Thereafter, and periodically, a server operated by the firearmmonitoring service provider may attempt to place a voice call to theSIM. This is done using the SIM information stored in the HLR. The SIM,however, is configured not to accept voice calls and responds to theattempt with a “do-not-allow” or “wink-back” message. In accordance withthe present invention, this message includes the contents of the dialbuffer; i.e., the encrypted LAI. At the server, the dial bufferinformation is combined with the information gleaned from an SS-7“location request” solicited by the server to provide detailed locationinformation for the SIM (i.e., for the associated firearm). Because noactual voice or data transmission occurs power consumption is minimizedin these transactions. In some instances, Global Positioning System(GPS) information may be included in addition to LAI in order to furtherdefine the location of the firearm user. The GPS information may beassociated with the hub (if so equipped) and/or with the BTS incommunication with the SIM.

To facilitate the operations described herein, the service provider'sHLR 24 is configured to include parameters useful for monitoringfirearms, which parameters may include but are not limited to: name ofregistrant (often, though not necessarily the firearm owner), purchasedate, make and type of firearm, location purchased, description ofauthorized use areas (i.e., description of geo-fence boundaries),description of authorized use dates and/or times (e.g.,times-of-day/days-of-week, etc.). An associated database 28 isconfigured with rule sets that define messages to be sent to a hub. Forexample, rules that are based on HLR parameters defining geo-fencesand/or use dates and/or times may be provided. When information from ahub is received at the server, the server consults the HLR to retrievethe associated use parameters for firearms associated with that hub andissues instructions in accordance with those parameters. For example, inthe case of a subscriber that has defined permitted uses of a firearm tobe on weekends from 09:00 to 11:00, upon receipt of a signal from a hubindicating that a safety has been disabled, the server will retrieve theassociated parameters from the HLR, compare the permitted use days/timeswith the current day/time and issue an enable or disable instruction tothe hub for relay to the firearm accordingly. Similar enable/disableinstructions based on geo-fence rule sets and decisions based uponreal-time receipt of hub location information may also be dispatched.Logs of such decisions and instructions may be kept for later review andassessment.

Ideally, the HLR and any associated database are accessible only viaauthenticated accesses by the firearm owner and/or authorizedindividuals. In some countries, law enforcement personnel may bepermitted to access and/or override certain parameters. For example, insome countries, law enforcement personnel or governmental authoritiesmay be able to enforce firearm-free zones through one or more defaultHLR parameters applied to all firearms registered with the serviceprovider. Changes in HLR parameters may, in some circumstances, also besubject to “waiting periods” in order to permit review by lawenforcement or other government authorities.

Applications running on a subscriber's mobile device may be used toconfigure the geo-fences and other parameters stored at the HLR. Inaddition, the application may be used to receive location informationconcerning the hub. For example, subscribers may use the application topoll the HLR for current location information and/or may receive alertswhen location updates are received by the HLR in response to detectedmovements of the firearm.

The computer- or controller-based devices described herein generallywill include includes a bus or other communication mechanism forcommunicating information, and a processor coupled with the bus forprocessing information. Such devices also will include main memory, suchas a RAM or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus for storinginformation and instructions to be executed by processor. Main memoryalso may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed byprocessor. Such devices further will include a ROM or other staticstorage device coupled to the bus for storing information andinstructions for the processor. A storage device, such as a hard disk orflash drive, may also be provided and coupled to the bus for storinginformation and instructions. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in the main memory, ROM and/or storage device causes theprocessor to perform the process steps described herein. Such devicesalso include a communication interface coupled to the bus, whichcommunication interface provides a two-way data communication path as isknown in the art. For example, such a communication interface may be alocal area network (LAN) interface to provide a data communicationconnection to a compatible LAN.

Thus, methods and systems for monitoring and, optionally, controlling,handheld firearms and related instruments that make use of one or moreembedded sensors configured to send and receive signals over a wirelesscommunications network have been described. In various embodiments, thepresent invention provides a safety mechanism for a firearm in which apersonal hub is used as a communications gateway to and from the firearmand, optionally, a decision-gate in the firing enable path thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising a firearm having includedtherein a sensor configured for wireless communication over a shortrange radio frequency (RF) network, a hub worn on the person of a userof the firearm, the hub including a subscriber identity module (SIM) andconfigured to receive communications from the sensor over the shortrange RF network using a first transceiver and with a monitoring stationover a signaling channel of a wireless telecommunications networkcompliant with signaling system 7 (SS-7) using a second transceiver,wherein the communications from the sensor are transmitted by the sensorin response to detected movements of the firearm.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the hub is configured to transmit an alert over the wirelesstelecommunications network upon being informed by the sensor of one ormore of: movement of the firearm, an attempted operation of the firearm,disabling of a safety of the firearm, and a change in mode of thefirearm.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub is further configuredto communicate with a plurality of sensors over the short range RFnetwork, each of the sensors associated with a respective firearm orother instrument.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor isconfigured to enable/disable operation of the firearm in accordance withinstructions received from the hub.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinthe monitoring station comprises a computer aided dispatch system.